Week 4 IDP Rankings for Fantasy Football (2024) - Defense Positional Rankings for LB, DL, DB

As we have discussed before and will again address in our IDP Streamers column later this week, matchups are not everything in fantasy football. Sometimes, an elite player can have an elite matchup and lay an egg. Other times, a mid-tier player will have a surprisingly efficient game against a very tough matchup.

With that said, matchups are a big factor in fantasy football rankings, streaming, and weekly roster decisions. Specifically, many IDP managers are often left pondering if they should start a star in a bad matchup or a lesser talent in a good one. Luckily, this week provides us with both, as multiple elite edge rushers line up with some of the best matchups you could ask for.

The elite edge matchups start with Maxx Crosby, who will (hopefully) face PFF's second-lowest graded pass-blocking unit (Cleveland). Meanwhile, Nick Bosa gets a Patriots offense that has surrendered 43 pressures and nine sacks. Finally, the season’s most effective edge (Aidan Hutchinson) gets a Seattle team surrendering pressure on nearly 30% of dropbacks.

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IDP “Standard” Scoring System for Rankings:

6-points per Defensive Touchdown

4-points per Forced Turnover (FF/INT)

3-points per Sack

2- points per PD, FR, Safety

1-point Solo Tackle

0.5-points Assisted Tackle

Note: These rankings are also based on leagues that start one player at each defensive position (DL, LB, DB) and two DFLEX.

Top Fantasy Defensive Linemen of the Week

DL Riser of the Week:

Will McDonald IV, New York Jets

We must begin by noting this spot in my weekly rankings used to be the "Start of the Week." In it, I would label my favorite starts for IDP based on player/opponent matchups and player availability. That changed several years ago when Rotoballer assigned me an entire column on streamers and fades.

Now, this spot is for players whose stock is rising. Matchups in a given week play a role in who may be the Riser of the Week, and we will note if a riser has a particularly great matchup. However, it must be noted that the primary purpose of the Riser of the Week is to identify a player whose overall fantasy stock is rising significantly.

With that in mind, McDonald’s matchup this week is just average. The Broncos are smack in the middle of the pass rush win rate and pressure rate rankings. However, McDonald is currently the 78^th most rostered DL in fantasy, despite the fact he is second in the NFL in sacks through three weeks. This is an anomaly that needs correction.

McDonald's sack numbers at Iowa State were elite. The question was his size. The former Cyclone has answered those size questions, and Robert Saleh clearly knows how to use him. Thus, the second-year pro’s stock in IDP should be much higher than his roster rate suggests. Consider McDonald a weekly DL2, or better, unless the wheels fall off.

Usually, I’d say sacks as the looper on stunts aren’t overly impressive.

I loved this rep from Will McDonald though. The speed to cross the guards face initially is nice. But it’s all about the right leg plant and hip flip to bend back to the QB.

Awesome pic.twitter.com/rOcS52NE1M

— Luke Grant (@LukeGrant7) September 24, 2024

DL Disappointment of the Week:

T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers

Almost no one is benching T.J. Watt when he is healthy. His ability to impact the game and fantasy in all facets is just too good. No matter the matchup, a healthy Watt is a virtual must-start.

However, we must warn that this week could be a very low-volume affair for Watt and the Steelers' pass rush. Indianapolis has the eighth-lowest pass rate of any offense in the NFL this year, but that figure is based on averages, not pure volume. The Colts are dead last in the NFL in offensive plays per game and fifth-lowest in pass attempts.

Worse, PFF grades the Colts with the best pass-blocking unit in the league through three weeks. Indy has allowed just 15 quarterback pressures and two sacks, which is nearly a third of what teams like Seattle and New England are giving up. Add to that just how difficult Anthony Richardson is to bring down, and it’s a very tough matchup.

It’s worth repeating: Watt is almost impossible to bench. Nick Herbig is also an alluring streamer based on his metrics. However, if you are in a very shallow league where you can only play one DL each week and you also have Aidan Hutchinson or Nick Bosa, you should play Hutchinson and consider Bosa over Watt this week.

Top Fantasy Linebackers of the Week

LB Riser of the Week:

Daiyan Henley, LB, Los Angeles Chargers

Henley has been one of my preseason sleepers for two straight summers, and he was the LB2 in my final NFL Draft rankings for the 2023 class. The Washington State product was a tremendous coverage linebacker in college who I compared to Dre Greenlaw as a prospect.

The sophomore remained a sleeper this summer, rather than a breakout because it wasn’t clear if he would earn a starting role over the veteran Denzel Perryman or Harbaugh protégé Junior Colsen. So far, Henley’s usage has gone up each game, and he reached 100% last week. He’s also PFF’s 13^th-rated coverage LB and is third in run-stop rate.

The Chiefs, as currently constructed, are not an ideal matchup for opposing linebackers. Therefore, Henley is only ranked as a low-tier LB this week. However, his film and metrics make Henley a low-end LB2 most weeks, with the upside to crack the top 15 if his role and opportunities stay consistent.

Daiyan Henley led the team in tackles again & he's getting better & better at attacking the line of scrimmage pic.twitter.com/8LLXjRktvZ

— Garrett Sisti (@GarrettSisti) September 23, 2024

LB Disappointment of the Week:

De’Vondre Campbell, San Francisco 49ers

Going into Week 3, Campbell was the 40^th most rostered LB in fantasy. His usage is understandable, considering the former Packer has a history of producing elite fantasy numbers and was supposed to step into a role with the 49ers that made Dre Greenlaw a steady LB2. However, things have not worked out the way many hoped.

Campbell has just 11 Standard IDP points through three weeks. Worse, some 49ers beat writers have reported the team is looking at replacing Campbell. This news will go underreported nationally, but IDP managers must know that Campbell isn't just in a slump. He's likely to be benched even before Greenlaw can return.

Top Fantasy Defensive Backs of the Week

DB Riser of the Week:

Chamarri Conner, Kansas City Chiefs

Conner is currently the second-highest-scoring DB in IDP Standard scoring, so one might wonder why it’s taken so long to push him into the DB2 tier. There are two reasons.

First, Conner's rise up the fantasy scoreboard has been relatively big-play dependent. 50% of his fantasy points have come from three big plays this season. While some players do have a knack for making those big plays, interceptions and fumble recoveries for touchdowns are hard to rely on or predict most weeks.

The second reason it’s taken Conner time to ascend our ranks is he was not a starter for the Chiefs until last week. Heck, he wasn’t even seeing reliable snaps the first two weeks of the season. It was not until Week 3 that Conner saw more than 58% of Kansas City’s defensive snaps.

As you can guess, Conner’s usage and performance in Week 3 did a lot to raise to stabilize his potential and projections moving forward. Most IDP managers can’t rely on someone who is seeing 58% of the defensive snaps every week, but they can rely on a big play threat with solid tackle production and a snap rate above 80%.

Hopefully that usage continues, given the impact Conner has had early in the season.

Chamarri Conner with a really good open field tackle beating the pulling lienam to the perimeter. Danna took on the key block from London. #Chiefs pic.twitter.com/is82aOus3o

— Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) September 24, 2024

DB Disappointment of the Week:

Jaylon Jones, Indianapolis Colts

Jones is currently the seventh-highest-scoring fantasy DB in IDP Standard scoring. He's not rostered in many leagues, but his roster rate has already doubled just off Tuesday waiver adds. When most waivers run on Wednesday, his rates should continue to rise. Hopefully, they won’t rise too much, though.

44% of Jones' fantasy points this season are off of two interceptions against the generous Caleb Williams. This week, Jones gets the Steelers, whose offense has the third-lowest pass rate in the NFL this season. Justin Fields is also tied with Aaron Rodgers for the fewest turnover-worthy throws this season. That spells low opportunities for Jones.

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